Toy pistols



June 14, 1955 I H. J. PETERSEN 2,710,478

TOY PISTOLS I Filed April 14, 1954 2 SheetE-Sheet 1 i 1 4| 26A 29AQ g2, I 42 INVENTOR HARRY J.' P ETERSEN W0, c. W

ATTORNEY June 14, 1955 H. J. PETERSEN TOY PISTOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14. 1954 ow .8 3 65m 5 2 mm mm m m M rmml. Nw mmw mom mm W m m Nmm 3 35 N R A; M mm M in W G A m w R A cm a Y B m :fihH Q 2 0mm w nw 0% Hi 2,710,478 Patented June 14, l 955 This invention relates to toy pistols and more particularly to a toy pistol adapted to discharge therefrom several types of projectiles (each having non-penetrating characteristics) by explosive force of fulminating powder contained in paper caps, and has for an object to provide new structural features and modifications of old features of toy pistols as required to safely control the explosive force of said paper caps for the designated purpose.

Another object is to provide new types of projectiles (each said type havin non-penetrating characteristics) adapted to be discharged from the presently organized structures as herein described, and having a'desired color, as red, White, blue, silver, etc,

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings are shown novel features and construction of certain embodiments of the device according to the present invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of a pistol structure embodying all features essential to the accomplishment of the first object of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the pistol barrel in position for loading;

Fig. .3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view approximately along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged pictorial View of the tubular liner showing the flange and annular rim at the breech end of same;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the pistol barrel, showing the adjacent arm engaged by depending bifid projections from said barrel;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view showing breech of pistol barrel in released position, radial arm in rotated position, and showing method of mounting the detonating means in the breech portion of the pistol stock;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view approximately along the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, showing eccentric pivot pin in rotated position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a paper cap, showing same reinforced by abrasive coated discs on each side thereof.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal transverse section of the breech part of the pistol barrel and stock, showing certain structural modifications thereof to provide for use of a paper cartridge containing a nonpenetrating projectile of a type described, said cartridge being shown positioned therein; and

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the cartridge shown Fig. 9, showing by dotted lines the position of cuts in the closed end'of said cartridge, part way through wall of same, to permit the projectile therein to be discharged by the small force of explosion of the contiguous paper cap.

In the following description certain specific terms are used for convenience in referring to various details .of the invention. These terms, however, are to be given as broad an interpretation as state of the art will permit.

a radial flange 27 and an annular rim 28.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the following is a description thereof wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters.

The numerals represent a barrel formed from a heat resistant synthetic resin or plastic and which barrel is pivotally mounted on the fore part of a stock 16 by an eccentrically rotatable pivot 17 which connects a medial depending projection 13 of said barrel 15 with said stock. Said pivot having an eccentric bore mounted on a transverse bolt 19 extending throughsaid stock, and a radially extending arm 20. A depending bifid projection 21, 22 from the forward end of said barrel is adapted to engage and retain the forward end of said arm 20. A portion 23 of said arm having a corrugated surface is adapted to be grasped between finger and thumb for operation of arm 20. When the breechend of said barrel engages the annular recess 24 within the breech portion of said stock and said arm 26 is engaged within said bifid projection 21, 22, as shown Fig. 3, said barrel remains in fixed position. Said barrel may be released to loading position, as shown in Fig. 2, by swinging the arm in the direction of the arrow 25.

A series of interchangeable tubular liners 25A, 265, or 26C each of which is preferably formed of a heat resistant plastic slidably fitting'the bore of said barrel have Said tubular liner 26A is adapted to be loaded with a projectile of the type shown 2A, Fig. 6, and said flange 27 and rim 28 are adapted to retain ajpaper cap 36 in contiguous relation with respect to said flange 27. Said tubular liner 26B is adapted to be loaded with a cartridge 31 containing a type of projectile 29B, Fig. 9, and said tubular liner 26C is adapted to mount on its forward end a globular-type projectile 29C, 'Fig. 3. The globular projectile 29C having radially extending hollow circular portions adapted to slidably telescope over'the taper end of said tubular liner 26C, and is thereby adapted to be discharged therefrom by explosion of a paper cap 36 positioned on said flange 27. A concentric flexible ring 33 retained within said breech end of said barrel 15 co-acts between the latter andsaid radial flange 27 to retain said annular rim 28 seated with a predetermined pressure against the bottom of said recess 24. Said ring 33 being constructed of rubber-or other material having suitable characteristics including size to limit the pressure within said tubular liner to a predetermined value, when said pressure exceeds said given predetermined value said annular rim 28 is forced slightly away from its seat on said recess 24 and gases thereby permitted to escape.

A pressure-sealed detonating means is mounted within said breech portion of said stock comprising a hollow cylindrical member 34 slidably mounted in the concentric portion '35 of said stock, said member 34 having an outer radial flange 36 and an internal flange 37. Said flange 36 being adapted to limit the forward position of said member 34 by engagement of said flange 36 with said portion 35. A cylindrical detonating pin 38 slidably mounted within said breech portion of said stock and having a shoulder 39 for engaging said internal flange 37 as required to limit the rebound movement of said detonating pin whereby the breech portion of the explosive chamber containing said paper cap Si) is sealed and undue escape thereby of gases from detonated powder is prevented. A second concentric flexible ring 46 co-acts between said breech portion of said stock and said member 34 to retain the forward end of the latter seated with a predetermined unit pressure against said contiguous paper cap 39 substantially equivalent to the unit pressure sustained by said flexible ring 33. .The outer portion of said detonating .pin 38 having a :second shoulder 41 adapted to have frictional engagement with the interior of said second flexible ring 40 for retaining said pin 38 within said breech portion of said stock.

A spring-actuating and trigger-controlled means for operating said detonating means comprising a unitary hammer-trigger member 42, 43 pivotally mounted on a transverse bolt 44 extending through said stock, and having a rear dent 45 at the junction of said hammertrigger portions. A leaf spring 46 is affixed within the interior of said stock in a position whereby the upper end of said spring engages said dent 45 in a manner adapted to retain said hammer 42 in cocked-position until released by pulling said trigger portion 43 rearwardly, and said spring is adapted to exert the proper pressure for driving said hammer forward as required to actuate said detonating pin 38 for detonating said cap 30. A rearward projection 47 constitutes a counter-weight adapted to add force to that force exerted by said leaf spring 46, and the arcual contour of the lower edge 48 of said projection 47 aligned with the forward protuberance 49 from said stock is adapted to prevent pinching the finger of the operator by said trigger portion when same is pulled rearwardly. Said hammer-trigger member is shown in cocked-position at 42, 43 Fig. 3.

To load the mechanism described, said arm 20 is swung in direction of arrow 25 to position at 20, then said barrel is pivoted on said bolt 19 to the position 15, best shown Fig. 2. A projectile of a type shown is positioned with respect to a tubular liner, a cap 30 is positioned on said flange 27, the breech of said barrel being returned to position shown Fig. 6, and said arm is swung upwardly, whereby said eccentric pivot 17 is rotated on said bolt 19 to slidably engage said breech end of said barrel 15 with said annular recess 24, and said parts are fixed in this position when the forward end of said arm 20 is engaged by said bifid projection 21, 22. In the fixed position, as shown Fig. 3, the hammertrigger member may be placed in cocked-position indicated 42, 43, and said cap 30 detonated by pulling rearwardly on said trigger portion. A cartridge 31 may be loaded in a tubular liner, Fig. 9, and the cap 30 detonated in the manner described. In contrast to the above procedure, it is necessary to position a large globulartype projectile 290 on the forward end of a tubular liner as in Fig. 3, the same being discharged by a cap 36 detonated in the manner described. The bore of said liner 26C may be quite small and further obstructed by a transverse pin 50 when desired as a safety measure. It is essential that the bores of said tubular liners 26A and 26B correspond to the size desired of projectile 29A and cartridge 31, respectively.

Said detonating means may be modified when a cartridge such as 31 is used: Said member 34 may be omitted and said detonating pin 38 modified as shown Fig. 9, to snugly engage the interior crirnped portion 67 of said cartridge 31. Such modification permits the use of a metalized plastic detonating pin 3%, the enlarged forward end of said detonating pin 38 may be covered with metal foil, as at 52 Fig. 9, said foil being retained thereon said enlarged end by indentations 53 which engage an annular groove 54. Said stock of said pistol comprises a pair of sections 55, and 56, Fig. 2, fitted together in a manner whereby said detonating means may be assembled therein and said pair of sections secured in fixed relation by transverse bolts 19, 44 and 57, however, a closure part 58 attached by screws 59 thereto said breech portion of said stock, may provide further convenience for removal and installation of said detonating means, best shown Fig. 9.

It should be noted that the space behind said paper cap 30 is sealed in a triple manner: First, the flexible ring 33, constructed of artificial or natural rubber, is designed to co-act between its seat within the breech of said pistol barrel and said radial flange 27 to retain said annular rim 28 seated against the bottom of said annular recess 24 at a desired unit pressure, corresponding to the force required to push said rim 28 back from the extended position shown Fig. 2 to the position shown Figs. 3 and 9. Second, a concentric flexible ring 40, constructed of artificial or natural rubber, is designed to co-act between said breech portion of said stock and said member 34 in a manner adapted to retain the forward end of the latter against said paper cap at a unit pressure substantially equal to the unit pressure between said rim 28 and said annular recess 24. Third, the rebound-movement of said detonating pin 38 is limited by said flexible ring co-acting with a shoulder 39 of said pin 38, whereby the breech of said stock is substantially sealed against escape of gases from the explosion of said paper cap 30. The above described relation of parts provides for greater safety, for when the pressure behind said cap 30 exceeds a predetermined value, due to more than one cap being exploded, or other cause, said members 28 and 34 are thereby forced slightly away from their respective seats which releases excessive pressure behind said cap.

The projectile of the type 29B within said cartridge 31 may be formed of powered or granular material, or of material having jellylike character, having low specificgravity, and therefore, non-penetrating. Said cartridge comprises a cylindrical shell 31, a radial flange 60, and an annular rim 61. The forward end 62 of said shell is closed, rounded and metalized to simulate a true projectile. Said rounded end of said shell is slit part way through at spaced intervals as indicated by dotted line 63, Fig. 10. in loading said cartridge, after said projectile 29B is positioned in said cartridge, an abrasive coated disc 64, havin a central opening 65, is positioned on said radial flange 69, a toy pistol paper cap 30 is positioned on said disc 64, a second abrasive disc 66 is positioned on said paper cap 30, and said annular rim 61 is crimped as at 67 to retain said discs and said cap in contiguous relation to said radial flange 60. Said cartridge shuld be constructed of strong carton paper, approximately 0.0l0-inch thick, and coated with plastic after crimping process.

The type of projectile 29A may be rendered nonpenetrating by using material of jellylike character or of cellular structure and having low specific-gravity.

The type of projectile 29C may be also rendered nonpenetrating by use of cellular material, but preferably by a hollow construction as shown Fig. 3 comprising a globular shell 29C having circular hollow portions 68 extending radially from opposite points on the surface thereof and terminating in contiguous closed ends 69, the interior of each said hollow portion being adapted to slidably telescope on said forward end of said tubular liner 26C.

The structural principles employed in providing a closed space behind the paper cap 30 under a limited predetermined pressure, and the safety features incorporated therewith to maintain said limited predetermined pressure may be incorporated in many modifications of other types of toy firearms, likewise, the types of nonpenetrating projectiles may be used with such modifications, therefore, such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims are deemed to be a part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A toy pistol adapted to discharge several types of non-penetrating projectiles by explosive force of fulminating powder contained in paper caps comprising a stock, a barrel pivotally mounted on the fore part of said stock and connected thereto by an eccentrically rotatable pivot, the breech portion of said stock having an annular recess adapted to slidably engage the breech end of said barrel, means for rotating and retaining said rotatable pivot as required to position and lock said breech end of said barrel within said annular recess, a series of interchangeable tubular liners each for use with a particular projectile and capable of being mounted one at a time in said barrel, the forward end of each tubular liner terminating in a taper portion, the breech end of each said tubular liner terminating in a radial flange having an annular rim, said annular rim being adapted to retain a paper cap in parallel contiguous relation with respect to said radial flange, a concentric flexible ring retained within said breech end of said barrel co-acting between the latter and said radial flange to retain said annular rim seated with a predetermined pressure against the bottom of said annular recess, a pressure-sealed detonating means mounted within said breech portion of said stock for detonating said paper caps, and a spring-actuated and trigger-controlled means for operating said detonating means.

2. A toy pistol adapted to discharge several types of non-penetrating projectiles by explosive force of fulminating powder contained in paper caps as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating and retaining said rotatable pivot as requireed to lock said breech end of said barrel within said annular recess comprises a pivot portion having an eccentric bore, a projection depending from said barrel and having a bore with said pivot rotatably extending therethrough, a transverse bolt extending through said forepart of said stock and said pivot eccentric bore, said pivot portion having a radially extending arm, and a depending bifid projection from said piston barrel adapted to detachably engage the forward end of said arm.

3. A toy piston adapted to discharge several types of non-penetrating projectiles by explosive force of fulminating powder contained in paper caps as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pressure-sealed detonating means mounted in said breech portion of said stock for detonating said paper caps comprises a hollow cylindrical member slidably mounted therein as required to slidably engage the concentric interior of said annular rim of the tubular liner mounted in said barrel, said hollow cylindrical member having an external flange portion adapted to engage a conjunctive portion of said breech portion for limiting the forward position of said member and an internal flange portion, a second flexible ring co-acting between said breech portion of said stock and said hollow cylindrical member to retain the forward end of the latter seated with a predetermined pressure against a contiguous paper cap positioned on said radial flange, and a cylindrical detonating pin slidably mounted within said breech portion of said stock and having a shoulder for engaging said internal flange portion as required to limit reboundmovement of said detonating pin whereby the breech behind said paper cap is sealed and undue escape of hot gases from detonated powder is prevented, and said detonating pin being retained within said breech portion of said stock by a second shoulder having frictional engagement with the interior of said second concentric flexible ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,919 Reid et al. Sept. 13, 1904 1,123,195 Kilgore Dec. 29, 1914 1,448,436 Day Mar. 13, 1923 1,718,247 McWhirter June 25, 1929 1,853,830 Peake Apr. 12, 1932 1,900,790 Brandt Mar. 7, 1933 2,037,313 Duncanson Apr. 14, 1936 2,112,144 Coupland Mar. 22, 1938 2,482,436 Ream Sept. 20, 1949 2,539,968 Payne Jan. 30, 1951 2,590,862 Hoppert Apr. 1, 1952 2,654,175 Hansen Oct. 6, 1953 

